Sheet detector



Jan, 20, 1925.

J. WHITE SHEET DETECTOR Filed Oct. 11, p19

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Jan, 20, 1925.

J. WHITE SHEE'I" DETECTOR Filed oct. 11, 1919 m a m: r 5

J. WHITE SHEET DETECTOR Fil ed on. 11, 1919 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INV OR.52/41; M4A

ATTORNEYS n Q i m a w. i Ffii- Patented Jan. 23, 1.9235.

tlhlllifil) ETATES 4 rain-ts PATENT "OFFICE.

JOSEPH WHITE, or atznnnnsnaz, new annsnv; Minivan n.WHITE,ADMINIsTnATnIX or SAID :iosnrn wnrrn, Dace-Assn, assrenon, BYMESNE essreninnn'rs, 'ro R. npn AND 00., or new roan, I\T.'Y., a.ooneonarron or new YORK.

snnnr DETECTOR.

Application filed October 11, 1919.

To all 10/20 272 it may concern.

Be it known that I, JosnrI-i lVrrrrn, a citizen of the United States,residing at Middlesex, in the State of New Jersey, have invented a newand useful Improvement in Sheet Detectors, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to devices for controlling an operating mechanismin accordance with the. position of a sheet and particularly the controlof some operating part of a printing press or the like, such as acylinder trip, a belt shifter or the like, according to the presence orabsence of a sheet fed to the feeding point of such a machine.Heretoforc such devices have involved constructions, particularly whenbased on the displacement of a mechanical part, which gave someresistance to the sheet as it was being moved intopredeterinmed-position, and which would not render the machineinoperative in the event that the sheet was moved beyond itspredetermined position. Some of the objects of my invention are toobviate these defects. Another object of my invention is to provide asheet detector on a movable part,

my invention consists of certain novel fea tures of construction,combination and arrangement of parts as Will be more fully described andpointed out in the appended claims.

In the drai'vings, Figure 1 is a portion of a printing cylinder of aprinting press which I have chosen for the purposes of illustration.many of the parts and the open ation of this particular cylinder beingof the character that is shown in 'my prior Patent. No. 1,178,563.granted April 11, 1916. in which the sheet is fed to the lower portionof the cylinder after having first been 'gaged hyhavingits edgepresented to either stationary or movable gages. Fig. 2 isa sideelevation of the mechanism shown in Figure 1. Fig. 3 is a view similarto Fig. 2, but taken at the opposite end of the cylinder to show thegripper operating mechanism.

Serial No. 330,023.

The corresponding parts are referred to both inthe specification and inthe drawings by similar reference characters.

in the illustrative form ofmy invention the cylinder 10 is provided witha shaft 11 carrying sheet grippers 12, the ends 13 of the grippers 12cooperating with a fixed abutment 14 carried by the cylinderon the beam15 fastened thereto. The gripping: point 13 of the gripper 12-and one ofthe abntments 14 obviously constitute a pair of grippers to engage thesheet S, as shown in Figure 1. A tumbler 16 of the usual type'isattached to the shaft 11, and tumbler pins, such as 161., of theordinary type, may be provided so that the shaft 11 is partially rotatedin opposite directions to take and release a sheet, all in thewell-known manner. The shaft 11 would beheld either with the grippers inclosed position, as shown in Fig. 1, orin open position by thensual'spring and spring rod illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, thisarrangement also being 'a devicecommonly'used in the art.

Supported in'a poppet 17 in the beam 15 is a support 18 carryinga stud'19 on which is pivoted a three-armed lever,'one of which arms 20 is adetent,'another of which arms 21- is a weight lever carrying anadjustable weight'22, and thethird arm' 23 is a detector arm carrying adetector blade 24 adpistably mounted thereon, the ad ustment beingprovided by the screw 25. There may be as trated, the switch bars 37, 38are on the inside of the outer ring of the-cylinder 10. On the outerside of the cylinder 10 are a pair otcontact bars 39, 40 to which thebars 37, 38 'are connected electrically through the conductors 41, 411.On the side frame of the machine are mounted a pair of contact members42, 43 connected respectively to an electric circuit for a purpose to bereferred to hereinafter, each of the contact members 42, 43 being springseated and each arranged to wipe over one of the contact bars 39, 4:0 asthe cylinder 10 rotates.

On and fastened to the shaft 30 is a twoarmed lever positioned oppositethe detent 20, one of the arms 4-5 of this lever being arranged tocooperate with the top of the detent lever 20 and the other arm 16being; ar-

ranged to cooperate with the end of the detent lever 20 in a manner tobe hereinafter described.

In the illustrative form of my invention a sheet is fed to the cylinder10 as it is rotating in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 1,and the sheet is gaged before the grippers 12 close thereon by virtue ofthe tumbler 16 running; off the tumbler pins 161. If, however, 110-sheet has been presented or has not been properly positioned against thegages either on both sides or on one side of the machine, so that all ora portion of its front edge has not reached the predeterminedline towhich the sheet should be presented, or in the event that that portionof the sheetwhich was against the gages was properly positioned butthat, due to buckles or wrinkles in the sheet, some portion of itbetween the gages has passed beyondthe predetermined line as thegrippers 12close on it, it is desirable to either stop the machine ortrip the cylinders or in some other way render a portion of the machineinoperative so that the improperly positioned sheet will not be spoiledor the print inn; surface printed upon. The usual method is to trip thecylinders.

lVhile the sheet was being presented and gripped between'thegrippingpoints 1.3 and the abutments 14, the detector blade 24; would be held tothe left of the position shown in Figure 1 by the contact between thearm 45 and the detent arm 20. because at this time the roller 32 isrunning on the hi g'h part of cam that is, the part having the smallestradius. After the grippers 12 have closed on the sheetfthe roller 32begins to pass down to the low part of. the cam 33, and when it hasreached the position shown in Figure 1 the blade 24 has been permittedto turn under the influence of the weight 22 ton position which is thecorrect position at which the sheet should be positioned. Furtherrotation of the cylinder will A ermit the shaft to turn still further uner the influence of the spring 34 and the extent of this turning will bedetermined by the position of the end of the detent 20 in relation tothenotches 461, 4.62 and 4:63 in the arm 46 of the two-armed lever. Forinstance, in the position of the sheet shown in Figure 1 the end of thedetent 20 is located so that it will enter the deep notch or slot 462 toperinit the shaft 30 to have its maximum rotative movement, the presenceof the sheet 5 at the predetern'iined point holding the blade 24-, andtherefore the detent 20, in the position shown in Figure 1.

Because of the extent of rotation of the shaft 30 the contact pad 36 ismoved to the right of Figure 1 out of contact with the bar 37. so thatwhen the pins &2, 43 contact with the bars 39, 40 in the furtherrotation of the cylinder, 11o electrical circuit between them can beestablished because of the break due to the position of the switch arm35.

()n the other hand, if a sheet S has either not been presented to thegages at all or has not reached them. the weight 22 will swing the blade21- to the right of the position shown in Figure 1 and will thus elevatethe end of the arm 20 so that it will contact with the notch 463, as theshaft 30 is turned. and will thus prevent the spring 34 from rotatingthe shaft to more the switch arm :35 substantially from the positionshown in Figure 1, so that when contact established between the pins 42,4-3 and the bars 33) and a0, an electric circuit can be establishedbetween the pins.

Similarly. if a portion of the sheet opposite the blade 24- has for anyreason been crowded past the predetermined position, the weight 22 willbe restrained so that the detent 20 will be positioned opposite the.notch 4-61 and this likewise will prevent the motion of the pad 36 offthe bar 37.

The pins 4.2, 4-3 may be connected to any desired cleclrical apparatusto operate any part of the press such as :1 belt shifter or a trip. If atrip is to be operated. then it: will be arranged in a well-lniownmanner so that when a current passes through the cir-- cuit of which thepins 4-2. 3 are a part. the cylinders will be moved apart and broughttogether again when such circuit is broken at a predetermined point inthe rotation of the cylinders. Such an electrically operating trippinndevice directly applicable to machines of the type with which the feedcylinder of my present invention may be used is shown in my prior PatentNo. L l {1,693, granted July 1, 1920, in which the usual eccentric forseparating one of the pair of cylinders is controlled by a solenoid inan electric circuit, of which a switch controlled by the sheet forms apart. It will be obvious that the wires connected to the pins -12 and4,3 in Fig. 1 herein could be led directly to such a solenoid to controlthe tripping mechanism.

While I have shown my detector trolling an electric circuit, it willalso be understood that it may be used to control mechanical parts inways which are well understood in the art.

' It will be observed that the blade 24 does not contact with the sheetuntil after it has been positioned and, in the form illustrated untilafter the grippers have closed thereon. Consequently, there is notendency tor the contact oi the blade 24 with the sheet to prevent theproper positioning of the sheet.

Vhile I have shown and described my invention particularly in connectionwith a printing press, it will be understood that it may be used inconnection. with any mechanism for operating on sheets, such as sheetfolders or the like.

In the appended claims, the term edge is used in its ordinary meaning asdefining the boundary of the sheet and not any portion of the sheetinside the boundary thereof.

I claim:

1. A sheet-taking device adapted to engage the head oi a sheet, a sheetdetector adapted to move into detecting position against the edge of thesheet after the sheet is engaged by said device, and operating mechanismcontrolled by said detector.

2. A sheet-taking device adapted to engage the head of a sheet, a sheetdetector adapted to move toward the edge of the sheet and in a directiongenerally parallel to the surface of the sheet after the sheet isengaged by said device, and operating n'iechanisn'i controlled by saiddetector and made inoperative only when the sheet is in a predeterminedposition in said device.

3. A, cylinder having sheet grippers there.- on, means to close saidgrippers, a movable member, mechanism to move said member and in adirectiongenerally parallel to the surface of the sheet toward thegripping point of said grippers after they are closed and operatingmechanism whose operation is controlled by the position of said movablemember as determined by the presence or absence of a sheet in saidgrippers.

t. A cylinder having sheet grippers thereon, means to close saidgrippers, a movable member, mechanism to move said member and in adirection generally parallel to the surface of the sheet toward thegripping point of said grippers after they are closed and operatingmechanism whose operation is controlled by the position of said movablemember as determined by the position of a sheet in said grippers.

5. A cylinder having sheet grippers thereon, means to close saidgrippers, a movable member on said cylinder, mechanism to move saidmember and in a direction gen erally parallel to the surface of thesheet toward the gripping point of said grippers after they are closedand operating mechanism whose operation is controlled by the position ofsaid movable member as determined by the presence or absence of a sheetin said grippers.

6. A cylinder having sheet grippers thereon, means to close saidgrippers, a movable member, mechanism to move said member and m adirection generally parallel to the surta'ce oi the sheet toward thegripping point of said grippers after they are closed and operatingmechanism adapted to be rendered operative it said member fails to reachor passes a predetermined position and to be rendered inoperative ifsaid member stops at such predetermined position.

T. A cylinder having sheet grippers there- 'on, means to close saidgrippers, a movable position and to restrain such movement when saidmovable member tails to reach or passes said predetermined position, andmechanism controlled by the final position of said operating member.

5%. it. cylinder having sheet grippers thereon. means to close saidgrippers, a movable n'iember. mechanism to move said member and in adirection generally parallel to the an "face ot the sheet toward thegripping point ot' said grippers after they are closed, an operatingmember, means to move said operating member over a predetermined pathafter said grippers are closed, connections oetween said movable memberandsaid operating member constructed and arranged to permit saidoperating member to move over its predetermined path when said movablemember is stopped at a predetermined position and to restrain suchmovement when said movable member fails to reach or passes saidpredetermined position, and mechanism controlled by the final positionof said operating lever, said movable member and said operating memberbeing mounted on said cylinder.

9. l cylinder having sheet grippers thereon, means to close saidgrippers, a movable member adapted to be moved yieldingly and in adirection generally parallel to the survface of the sheet toward thegripping point of said grippers, means to prevent said movable memberfrom moving until after said grippers are closed, an operating member,means to move said operating member yieldingly, connections between saidmovable member and said operating member adapted to limit the motion ofsaid movable member when said movable member moves past or fails toreach a predetermined position, and mechanism controlled by the finalposition of said operating member.

10 A cylinder having sheet grippers thereon, means to close saidgrippers, a pivoted detector blade on said cylinder adjacent thegripping point of said grippers, means to hold said blade in advance ofsaid gripping point before said grippers close, means to move said bladeyieldingly toward said gripping point after said grippers are closed, amovable operating member on said cylinder, mechanism to move saidoperating member yieldingly after said grippers are closed, a detentconnected to said blade and adapted to engage said operating member ifsaid blade moves past or fails to reach a predetermined position, andmechanism con trolled by the position of said operating member.

11. A cylinder having sheet grippers thereon, means to close saidgrippers, a pivoted detector blade on said cylinder adjacent thegripping point of said grippers, means to hold said blade in advance ofsaid gripping point before said grippers close, means to move said bladeyieldingly toward said gripping point after said grippers are closed, apivoted operating member on said cylinder, mechanism to move saidoperating member yieldingly after said grippers are closed, a detentconnected to said blade and swinging therewith, said operating memberbeing provided with notches with which said detent is'adapted to engage,when said blade passes or fails to reach a predetermined position, tolimit the motion of said operating member, and mechanism controlled bysaid operating member.

, 12. A rotating cylinder having sheet grippers thereon, stationarysupports for said cylinder, a sheet detector on said cylinder andcontrolled by the position of a. sheet presented to said grippers, anoperating lever, means to move said operating lever yieldingly,connections between said deteetorand said operating lever to control themovement of said operating lever in accordance with the position of saiddetector, a switch on said cylinder connected to said operating lever,and means to establish an electric circuit between said cylinder and itssupport and through said switch.

13. A rotating cylinder having sheet grippers thereon, stationarysupports for said cylinder, a sheet detector on said cylinder andcontrolled by the position of a sheet presented to said grippers, anoperating lever, means to move said operating lever vield ingly,connections between said detector and said operating lever to controlthe movement of said operating lever in accordamrc with the position ofsaid detector, :1 switch on said cylinder connected to said operatinglever, a pair of contact bars adapted to be connected electricallythrough said switch and a pair ot contacts in said stationary supportsand each adapted to contact with one of said bars as said cylinderrotates.

14. A sheet-taking device, a sheet detector comprising a member adaptedto contact with the edge of a sheet, means to hold said member inadvance of the edge of a sheet being presented to said sheet-takingdevice until the sheet is in position to be taken by said device and topermit it to be moved toward the edge of the sheet after the latter isso positioned, and operating mechanism controlled by said member.

JOSEPH VI-UTE.

